Passage A

Practice Tests
Practice for the Texas Higher Education Assessment Test
Passage A

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

1. The subject matter of this passage is

A. the differences between sea levels in American states and island nations.

B. solutions for rising sea levels.

C. the problems of island nations.

D. the problems of rising sea levels.

2. In this selection, the author's main purpose is to

A. define and illustrate the way sea levels are measured.

B. describe and explain the effects of rising sea levels.

C. argue for the control of glacial melting.

D. describe the differences between island nations and American coastal states.

3. From paragraph 5, the reader may draw the conclusion that

A. sea water has not yet risen enough to harm New Orleans.

B. the seawalls and dikes protecting New Orleans must be at least above 7 feet high.

C. according to measurements, New Orleans will still be safe from rising sea levels for at least 100 more years.

D. the seawalls and dikes protecting New Orleans will soon be 10 feet below sea level.

4. Which of the following best defines the word thermal as it is used in paragraph 2 of the selection?

A. caused by ice

B. caused by storms

C. caused by glaciers

D. caused by heat

5. Which of the following best defines the word dissipate as it is used in paragraph 3 of the selection?

A. waste

B. dissolve

C. gather

D. build

6. The authors' primary means of organization of this selection is

A. comparison/contrast.

B. sequential.

C. cause and effect.

D. problems/solutions.

7. Which of the following list of topics most accurately represents the information presented in the selection?

A.

Sea level rise will be even greater as the oceans warm.

Glaciers are shrinking around the world.

A seawall was built around Male, the capital of Maldives.

Areas in the United States have already been affected by rising sea levels.

Other island nations are experiencing a sea-level rise.

B.

Effects of melting glaciers.

Effects of global warming.

Seawall of Male.

Island nations experience rising sea levels.

Rising sea levels in the United States.

C.

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Addition of glacial meltwater

Storm surges cause rising sea-levels

The Galapagos Islands

Coastal wetlands of southern Florida submerged

D.

Glaciers are shrinking around the world.

Maldive builds a seawall for protection.

Island nations suffer from sea-level rise.

Areas of the United States are affected by rising seas.